“ētto” Talk 2
The Study of Uselessness 2024

The second talk linked to Kyoto Experiment 2024’s key phrase—ētto—will take the form of a public discussion between Michio Okada, known for developing the “weak robot,” and art theorist Hiroshi Yoshioka. Starting from the invention of a robot that can’t do anything by itself, Okada investigates the nature of society, and people’s relationships with things and other people. Drawing on the speakers’ expertise, this talk asks whether “useless” detours that seem to run counter to contemporary society, which demands efficiency and short-term results, might in fact be directly connected to the meaning of our lives. In the first place, machines supposedly have meaning because they are useful, so why are we attracted to useless “weak robots”?

Guest: Michio Okada (Professor in Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology), Hiroshi Yoshioka (Aesthetician)
Host: Kyoto Experiment Co-directors